roughly double the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly double the" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating an amount that is approximately twice as much as another amount. Example: "The new budget is roughly double the previous year's budget, indicating significant growth in our funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is roughly double the national average.

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

That could roughly double the number of electric vehicles required.

The New York Times

It pushed through classes of roughly double the normal size.

The New York Times

The July figure is roughly double the number for January.

The New York Times

Those measures would roughly double the cost of imported panels, analysts say.

Yale University

Global Services signed contracts for $18.1 billion, which was roughly double the third quarter.

The New York Times

Now there are some 230,000 legal immigrants here, roughly double the number in Hungary.

The New York Times

"This is roughly double the effective rate of tax paid by working holidaymakers in New Zealand.

The Guardian

Freddie Mac holds roughly double the securities that Fannie Mae does.

The New York Times

European sugar has traded at roughly double the world market rate for almost two decades.

The New York Times

Earnings growth of the portfolio averages 18percentt a year, roughly double the benchmark's rate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly double the" when you want to express an approximate doubling of a quantity, without needing to be precise. It's suitable for general descriptions and estimations.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly double the" when precise figures are available. If you know the exact multiplier, state it directly to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly double the" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating an approximate multiplicative relationship. It modifies a noun or noun phrase, specifying that something is about two times the size, amount, or quantity of something else. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its wide application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

24%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly double the" is a versatile phrase used to express that one quantity is approximately twice another. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and frequently encountered across various sources, especially in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While direct and easily understood, writers should avoid it if precise figures are required. Alternatives such as "approximately twice the" or "nearly double the" can be used for variety, but maintain the core meaning. Therefore, "roughly double the" remains a practical choice for general estimations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately twice the

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately" and "double" with "twice", maintaining the meaning of an estimation.

around double the

Uses "around" to indicate an approximate amount, similar to "roughly".

about twice as much as the

Uses "about" instead of "roughly", and includes "as much as" for emphasis on quantity.

almost twice the

Combines "almost" with "twice" to convey a slight underestimation of double.

nearly double the

Substitutes "roughly" with "nearly", indicating the quantity is very close to double.

virtually double the

Suggests the quantity is so close to double it can be considered the same.

in the neighborhood of double the

Emphasizes the approximation more strongly, suggesting the value is near double.

something like double the

Indicates the quantity is similar to double, but not exact.

practically double the

Similar to "virtually double the", it means the quantity is almost exactly double.

in the vicinity of double the

A more formal way of saying "around double the", indicating an approximation.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly double the" in a sentence?

You can use "roughly double the" to indicate an approximate doubling of a quantity. For instance, "The new estimate is "roughly double the" previous one".

What are some alternatives to "roughly double the"?

Alternatives include "approximately twice the", "about twice as much as the", or "nearly double the", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "roughly double the" and "exactly double the"?

"Roughly double the" implies an estimation or approximation, while "exactly double the" indicates a precise doubling. Use "roughly" when the exact figure is not known or not important.

When is it appropriate to use "roughly double the" in writing?

It's appropriate when you need to convey that one quantity is approximately twice the size, amount, or value of another, without requiring exact precision. For example, "The cost is "roughly double the" initial budget."